He's published. He's accomplished internationally. He has appeared on Oprah, and besides serving as an adjunct professor, he heads up projects that aim at uniting Southern Maine's immigrant community and the university. His community outreach has spanned the last 20 years.
WMGP is not exactly a college radio station. It sits on one edge of campus - the first of the white houses as you drive past the garage - but bumper stickers, t-shirts, banners and DJs all proudly proclaim it as southern Maine's community radio. If you were tuned in last Tuesday morning, you might have heard DJ Deirdre Nice cue up Jeff Tweady's rendition of "Simple Twist of Fate," but you didn't see her sit back in her chair and gaze out toward the parking garage at the gray, rainy day.
March 10 Come tango at the North Star Cafe with Tango Mucha Labia, and show off your moves. The lesson starts at 7, and the dancing at 8. $5/ 225 Congress St., Portland/ 699-2994 March 11 Want to be an actor? Come audition for student films at the USM media studies production facility.
Leaning against the wall in one corner of the Gorham art gallery are six paintings, all in various stages of completion. There's also a record player and a comfortable old yellow chair speckled with paint. Empty coffee cups, album covers, and paintbrushes are strewn about the drop cloth surrounding an easel, and stale tortilla chips crunch underfoot.
Once in a while, when I'm hyping a great new band or a generally unheard of musician to a friend, they'll ask (to paraphrase): "Tyler, how do you find out about all this music I've never heard of?" I used to get this question more often, when I was more active in seeking out strange or unknown artists.
Belgian beers are generally regarded with high esteem by drinkers and critics alike. After finding a niche for this style of brewing in Maine, Allagash has carved out its own prestige in the beer community, and their Dubbel Ale holds up this tradition. Coming in at seven percent alcohol by volume and sporting a very dark pour, it's certainly nothing to scoff at.
When it was announced this summer that the Rustic Overtones were getting back together, the future of As Fast As was immediately thrown into doubt. Surely, AFA frontman and Rustic keyboardist Spencer Albee couldn't pull double-duty with two of Portland's biggest bands.
Though Planeside is from New York City, the Portland music community has openly accepted them as an honorary "local band." Vocalist/guitarist Dave Harris, bassist Ken Hirasaki, and drummer Craig Sala has been performing in Maine longer than most local bands have lasted, and they continue to stay fresh, attract large crowds, and put on some of the most energetic live sets this side of New England.
